The Search Recommences

February 5 -

Still really liking Dulcinea Tesla! It isn't a name I would have put together on my own, and I might not even pull it out of a lineup (i.e. "which of these combos do you like" queries), but I'm happy that it uses names that BOTH my husband and I really like, and it doesn't seem to be a "choose the least of evils" proposition for either party. Which is really what I was hoping for and didn't think we could actually find! Somewhere around the forums I saw an idea to do up a birth announcement at a place like tinyprints.com, and tried it out last week. As soon as I saw it finished with the surname I was like, oh yes, this is the right name. It "feels right" for OUR baby, and for THIS baby. Yeah!

As a "backup pick" I have Daisy Tesla Iverine, which is really stylistically more along the lines of something that I would do on my own. I really like the spunky rhythm of it -- but it has those rotten initials and would lose that romantic song (and leave her with a Bicycle Built For Two only, argh, and yes, it has been mentioned). I'm keeping it in my back pocket for that 1% chance that I'm just totally way off base and we need a different "feel" for the overall name. I've never actually managed to come up with a second, "different feel" option before, but it makes me feel more relaxed.

Due in four weeks! If I freak about the name, as I've done soooo many times before at the end of a pregnancy, I'm at least braced for it this time, ha!

I can't say how much I've appreciated all the discussion, suggestions, thoughts, comments, and general sounding-board listening of the Berry community over the past several months. Thank you, all!

Dulcinea- this is sweet, charming, and vintage-chic. dainty and girly, it makes me think of flowers. I'd say "dul-sin-ee-ah" or "dul-seen-ee-ah". Daisy totally works as a nickname
Iverine- not a fan of the name myself, but sweet to honour your grandmother and I like that you've loved it so long! Erin or Rina could be used as a NN if you need oneDagny- this seems a bit masculine to me, but fresh and crisp. I have no idea who DagnyTaggart isMagnolia- I love this name! I have a stuffed panda named Magnolia, nn Maggie. I think of magnolia flowers and beautifully dressed southern belles, very prim and proper but lighthearted and pleasant and friendlyIsolde- as long as you don't later name a son Tristan, you'd be fine. The name feels very wintery, strong and regal, like a snow queen.Iolanthe- people learn to spell all kinds of names. it's lovely and unique and freshEsmeralda- I haven't read Hunchback of Notre Dame so I wouldn't have made the connection. strong but delicate, vintage with a bit of a Victorian vibe
Quenilda- I'm not a fan of Q names, but I like the medieval vibe
Svala- cute and peppy, unusual but easy to catch on to since it's short and phonetically spelled

Iverine is lovely, but you have three boys' names ending in 'ine, 'ian, and 'an so I thought perhaps a differing ending would work better and not leave your other daughter feeling like the odd one out.

I'm torn on Dagny because I like the name, but it does automatically make me think of the book (which I've only read once, ages ago). Adding a "T" last name would definitely be too close for me.... BUT it's a great name.